Friday, 6 June 2014

The First ZK-CNA

In my previous post on retired ag pilot Rodney Davis's Nesmith Cougar ZK-CNA, I referred to his earlier mount which was the first ZK-CNA, so I thought I would detail some of its history.

Piper PA 25-235 Pawnee B ZK-CNA (c/n 25-3607) was assembled by the Piper agents Airwork NZ Ltd in Christchurch during January 1966 and it was registered to Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd on 11/2/66. It was flown by Rodney Davis and it carries his name under the cockpit in the photo taken by Blue Bus at Omaka on 12/12/73.

Its registration was cancelled on 21/4/75 and it was sold abroad along with two other Pawnees ZK- CEN and ZK-CID, to Ian Dunn of Dunns Aviation at Booragoon, Western Australia. ZK-CNA became VH-CPU on 30/6/75 (and ZK-CEN became VH-CPV, and ZK-CID became VH-CPT). VH-CPU is still current in Australia as a glider tug with Southern Cross Gliding Club of Camden, New South Wales. Thanks to Blue Bus for the information.